As you may have noticed from my social media accounts, I’m a big fan of everything happening at GENUINE Superette and their new subterranean bar GENUINE Liquorette, (recently had my birthday at their bar and it is so unbelievably creative and has an outstanding bar program), so I was really excited to learn one of my favorite chefs– James Beard award-winning chef Jamie Bissonnette will be the next guest chef taking over the rotating dish menu at the restaurant. Launching his dish creation last week – I’m eager to PIG OUT on his Thai-style pulled pork sandwich, which consists of pork shoulder rubbed with Thai red curry paste, which is then roasted and pulled. I haven’t had my chance to taste the sandwich yet, but I also learned the tender meat is actually mixed with coconut broth and has a kick with added chili, and flavored by ginger, lime leaf, lemongrass, cardamom, coriander and fish sauce creating a bite that’s spicy, salty, sweet and sour. The pork then goes on a toasted bun brushed with fish sauce mayo and topped with quick pickled cucumbers, fresh cilantro and Thai basil!! AMAZINGGG! I feel like the sandwich will take diners on a mental vacation to somewhere tropical. I’ll taste the sandwich and give direct feedback next week, but if you’re eager to try Jamie’s creation, the sandwich is available for lunch and dinner for $11.94 and available for the next several months only at GENUINE Superette.

Prior to Jamie, GENUINE Superette has featured a fish and chips dish from 2 Michelin star chef Paul Liebrandt as well as a spicy lobster roll from Texas’ lobster roll king, Lee Krassner from Dock & Roll Diner in Austin, TX. Following Jamie will be another award-winning chef Andy Ricker of the highly regarded line of Pok Pok restaurants in Portland, OR and New York City.

To give you a little background on Jamie Bissonnette (www.jamiebiss.com), he’s a James Beard award winning chef in the Best Chef Northeast category for his work at Coppa in Boston, MA and Toro in Boston and New York City (which just celebrated its second anniversary this week). He’s also a Food & Wine Best New Chef People’s Choice and recently launched the popular cookbook The New Charcuterie Cookbook. Therefore, expect a tasty sandwich and a great collaboration from GENUINE and Jamie!

After you’ve enjoyed the limited-edition sandwich by Chef Bissonette, head downstairs to wash it down with cocktails by GENUINE Liquorette! Designed by AvroKO, the space downstairs evokes the feel of a California, bodega-style liquor store complete with bottles of spirits lining the walls. As you walk down the stairs, the corridor is lined with old newspaper and alcohol and tobacco advertisements. Upon entering the bar, a large, neon “Liquorette” sign greets customers casting a glow on the black and white checkered floor and black lacquered, chrome-rimmed high-top tables. The bathroom is an ode to Farrah Fawcett.

A centerpiece of the GENUINE Liquorette bar is the Cha-Chunker, an invention created by master mixologist and AvroKO Hospitality Group’s head of bar operations and beverage development, Eben Freeman. Making its world debut at GENUINE Liquorette, the machine was dreamt up by Freeman with the idea of combining two of his favorite cocktail trends – canned cocktails and the bulldog-style cocktails where mini Corona’s are inverted into a margarita. A large metal point is lowered into the mouth of any canned beverage to widen the hole. An inverted mini bottle of liquor is inserted along with a straw and garnish. The Cha-Chunker portion of the menu will be offering specialty drinks like a Mojito and a Paloma, but you can order any mixed drink from gin and tonics to rum and cokes to be made with the Cha-Chunker. Cha-Ching!